Travel Guide to Prague

Visiting Prague for the first time?

Appreciate the architecture: Prague’s architecture is a visual timeline of the city’s history. The city escaped large-scale damage during World War II, leaving its medieval centre intact. Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Cubist, Functionalist: they’re all here, many of them meticulously renovated.

Relax on the waterfront: with myriad cafés and bars to choose from along the Vltava river, sit and drink in the atmosphere (and maybe some excellent Czech beer) while you look out over the famous Charles Bridge.

Get a great view: Prague is known for its many Gothic towers but a recent addition, the Žižkov Tower, is proving particularly popular thanks to its commanding views of the city. With its space-age architecture and unusual art installations, it might be an acquired taste for some, but its 8th floor viewing platform is a must-see.

Looking for something different?

Head for the hills: set high up above the city, the Strahov Monastery rewards visitors with a sense of calm.While you’re there, visit the monastery’s library which comprises one of the oldest monastic book collections in the country.

Go underground: not all of Prague’s well-preserved architecture is visible above ground. The underground tour of the medieval city lets you explore the catacombs and former streets hidden from everyday view.

Get crafty: there’s more to beer in Prague than the two brewing giants Budweiser and Pilsner Urquell (the world’s first pilsner). The country has nearly three hundred craft breweries, each producing distinctive beers.Zlý časy is one of the best places in Prague to sample these, with over 45 Czech beers on draft.

Visit the KGB museum: although it’s small, this museum houses a fascinating collection of memorabilia from the Czech Republic’s Soviet history, with an especially knowledgeable guide to take you through it. Not for the faint-hearted, you can see spy cameras, torture equipment, and even Lenin’s death mask.

Want to go further?

It’s a trip back to a difficult time in history, but the Terezín Memorial, located just north of the city, is worth a visit. This former Jewish ghetto and concentration camp now hosts a museum, cemeteries, and a memorial site.

Just over an hour outside of Prague, the Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) in Kutná Hora is a small Gothic chapel decorated with human bones from over 40,000 people. It’s one of twelve World Heritage sites in the Czech Republic.

Karlovy Vary, the most visited spa town in the Czech Republic, has been popular for over 100 years. This history means that there is a diverse collection of architecture ranging from 19th Century colonnades to socialist-era thermal baths.

Want to know a secret?

Playing a mix of jazz, blues, and pop, Lucerna Music Bar is a local favourite. Concerts featuring both Czech and international musicians are held here, as well as regular 80s and 90s parties.

If you're feeling inspired, why not book your city break to Prague here